Tank vs. Tankless Reverse Osmosis System: Which is better?

 

Have you ever considered which is best between a tank vs. a tankless reverse osmosis water system?

If you drink municipal tap water, you should understand that there may be impurities in your drinking water due to the large collection and distribution process.

 

Impurities such as Chlorine, Lead may be present in your water and harmful to your health. But, all your worries are solved when you get a good reverse osmosis water system to perfectly purify your drinking water. But which type should you buy?

 

When it comes to reverse osmosis water systems, there are two types involved: the tank vs. tankless. Most people usually get hooked on which type to buy that’ll suit their desires perfectly. 

If you’re one of them, then read along as this article explores all the features of tank vs. tankless RO systems as well as their benefits, disadvantages, and the criteria to consider before selecting any type!

 

What is a Tank Reverse Osmosis System?

 

The Tank RO system is the conventional type that has been around for ages and comes with a pressure tank. This tank plays a role in the collection of already filtered drinking water. So you can get clean water even if your home’s water is cut temporarily.

 

Asides from that, the tank system gives way for durability because you don’t have to open the safety valve nor the automatic water replenishment valve which from over action might cause damage.

 

Normally, getting water directly from these tank RO systems is a very slow process. The machine works by squeezing the water through the barrier to produce clean drinking water which can cause the output to be significantly slower than your tap water. How can one deal with this? Using storage tanks!

 

The tank collects already filtered water which is faster in usage! Collecting water beyond a certain level on the tank prompts the RO system to begin filtering more water to refill it.

 

Benefits of Tank RO water system

 

1. Storage of water even during emergencies

 

Sometimes your city’s water system will be stopped temporarily, probably due to some upgrade. What do you do when you need clean water immediately? A Tanked RO system is your savior as there’s already water in the tank, all for your use!

 

2. Less Noise

 

Reverse osmosis water systems require a water pump which requires power to filter clean water. The process can be noisy at times. However, with a tank RO system, there’s less need to worry since there’s water already filtered and stored in the tank. Most machines don’t use electricity except ones with an optional UV filter. And any need for more water signifies the system to filter water and fill up the tank.

 

But in tankless systems, the reverse is the case because it requires even more power than tanked ones. And like you should know, the more power involved, the higher the noise level.

 

3. Budget-friendly compared to tankless

 

Tankless RO water system provides the opportunity of getting instantly filtered water and for this reason, requires a frequent power supply and better materials. More so, the filter element and the reverse osmosis membrane are bigger than that of tanked machines to process water faster. All these couples make tankless systems more expensive than their counterparts. So if you are looking for a budget-friendly RO filtering system, the tanked ones are your best choice.

 

4. More Customizable Options

 

With a tank RO water system, you can easily customize by using extra filters such as the remuneration or ultraviolet (UV) light. The remineralization filter is super helpful if you want a certain nutrient in your drinking water.

 

The Ultraviolet light water purification system employs UV light for sterilizing impurities in water. If you would like to remove all bacteria, and another microbial organism, attaching this filter is a great choice. You can easily get all these attachments using a tank RO system!

 

For a perfect filter replacement for remineralizing your water, get our NU Aqua 5 in 1 Alkaline filter. You can also purchase the complete NU Aqua platinum series 6 stage alkaline 100GD RO system.

 

Disadvantages

 

1. Consumes Space

 

The tank reverses osmosis water purifier is larger in floor space than the tankless reverse osmosis water purifier because it contains an additional pressure barrel. You should consider getting a tankless system if space is a priority while purchasing one.

 

2. Easier to get contaminated

 

Tanked RO water systems are great, especially because there’s drinking water already stored in the tank for your usage anytime! However, when you leave this water for too long under tight pressure, secondary pollution may occur and the water may taste ‘off’.

 

The chances of bacteria growing in stored water are higher than when you get it directly using tankless systems. Since bacteria cannot exist in a vacuum, the problem of secondary contamination can be avoided in tankless machines as long as proper maintenance is carried out on the pressure tank.

 

3. Slower water output

 

The water output speed is normal when using from the tank. However, when it’s empty and requires refilling, the water output from the tank reverse osmosis system is greatly decreased as the filtering process is slower.

 

Tankless Reverse Osmosis System

 

With new technological advances, tankless RO systems become the new latest development. These kinds don’t come with storage tanks and are smaller, easier to operate and purify water optimally. Its winning point is basically that it takes less space in your kitchen than the tank systems.

 

Asides from that, newer technology means solving problems of the past which in this regard is the slow water output from the tank systems. This kind arrives with an upgraded RO water filter that offers better performance!

 

Benefits of Tankless RO water system

 

1. Less storage space

 

Worry no more about RO water systems occupying a large amount of space in your kitchen sink when you purchase a top-notch tankless RO system! This kind is designed for instant water purification and output therefore not in demand of a storage tank.

 

2. Secondary pollution eliminated

 

As we discussed earlier, long storage of drinking water in pressure tanks can cause bacterial buildup and secondary pollution. But there’s no need to worry about tankless RO systems which solve this problem perfectly. You can now enjoy fresher water.

 

3. Easy maintenance

 

Difficulty in changing RO filters is a thing of the past with tankless RO systems. The recent technology allows you to easily maintain it unlike in the tank systems which may take quite some time.

 

For example, you can use carbon block filters that are specific for large impurities or GAC filters which are super-efficient for taste removal.

 

4. Reduces wastewater and water bill

 

Have you worried about your high municipal water fees? You’d now worry fewer thanks to the high efficiency of tankless reverse osmosis water systems which produce less wastewater than tank ones while providing you with highly purified drinking water; a win-win!

 

Get our NU Aqua Efficiency series tankless 600GPD system that provides a 2:1 pure to waste ratio; your ideal choice for an ideal tankless water purification machine.

 

Disadvantages

 

1. More expensive purchase

 

As you would expect from newer technology, the tankless RO systems are quite expensive compared to the other type? Exactly! You’d pay more for the purchase which can be a disadvantage but you are sure getting good value for your money.

 

2. Electricity requirement

 

Unlike most tank RO systems that can operate off the power, tankless machines depend on constant electricity to function. They feature a booster pump or other electronics that require the use of an electrical outlet.

 

3. Fewer Customizable Options

 

Unfortunately, you would be more limited in terms of customization when using a tankless system. Adding special filters or attachments is slightly hindered when using this type.

 

4. No water during emergencies

 

What if your home water paused temporarily? Unfortunately, with tankless RO water systems, you cannot use filtered water because there’s no storage tank like the other type.

 

Factors to consider when choosing between tank vs. tankless reverse osmosis system

 

Before you hit the market for an ideal Reverse Osmosis water system, here are some things you may want to consider:

 

If you are hoping to get a budget-friendly yet highly functional RO water system for your home, then getting a tank system is a great choice! They are less expensive than the tankless types and do a perfect job in the purification process!

 

If you’d love to easily swap your system your system’s filter, then purchasing a tankless RO system does the trick. They are easier to maintain than tank ones.

 

It is also important to consider how much water you will need at any given moment and what level of filtration you require before deciding to invest in a tankless reverse-osmosis system. Tankless systems can maintain a constant water pressure level while the system is running for numerous people or if you use a lot of water.

 

While tankless systems are effective, there are some drawbacks to using one. Adding UV filters to protect water from microorganisms or alkaline filters to remineralize it are both out of the question. You'll need a larger system with a tank if you're using those kinds of filters.

 

A tankless system is also a great option if you want reverse osmosis water filtering but don't want to take up valuable space beneath your sink or deal with the trouble of maintaining a storage tank. Most importantly, they're more efficient than most of their larger counterparts in terms of both installation and maintenance.

 

Final words on tank vs. tankless Reverse osmosis system

 

Tank and tankless reverse osmosis systems are both great for purifying your municipal water and filtering out 99.99% of impurities to give you a healthier living!

 

However, the choice depends on you and your considerations. The pros and cons of each type have been fully explained above. You can now make an informed decision when buying a reverse osmosis water system.